Monday, May 31, 2010

JOYRIDERS STEAL CALGARY BUS

Two men were recorded on the bus surveillance camera.(Calgary Transit)

Two men stole an unattended Calgary Transit bus and took it on a joyride, hitting at least two vehicles before abandoning it.

A bus driver had parked the full-sized bus at about 5:50 a.m. Sunday and went into a fast-food restaurant in the 7200 block of 52nd Street S.E. to use the facilities, police said Monday.

When he emerged, the bus — which was carrying no passengers — had vanished.

Surveillance cameras on the bus recorded two men stealing the bus and taking it to Penbrooke Meadows. The men can be heard laughing on a portion of the video released by police on Monday.

"The two suspects while driving the bus were very wanton and reckless. It appears as though they were speeding.… Some hard turns were happening," said acting Staff Sgt. Kristie Verheul.

"If somebody was crossing a road or backing out of their driveway, there were some public safety concerns that were created from the way they were driving."

Bus hit parked vehicles

The bus struck at least two parked cars, causing minor damage, during the half-hour joyride, she said.

A citizen reported the damaged, abandoned bus on Penworth Close S.E. to police at about 6:30 a.m.

A bus can be left running if the driver is away for fewer than five minutes to grab a coffee or a quick bathroom break, according to Calgary Transit policy. However, if an errand takes longer than that, the bus is required to be shut off as per the city's non-idling policy.

"We try to reinforce that it's not good to leave your vehicle … with keys in it or idling unlocked. It's a hazard for everybody and obviously Calgary Transit has the same issues," said Verheul.

Investigators believe one suspect knows the area well, based on conversation between the two men in the surveillance video. Police hope someone will recognize the suspects and contact them.